Grader blade and mounting means therefor



May 7, 1968 L. c. BRAUD 3,381,760

GRADER BLADE AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [fa/enfor- 72d CBmzzd,

May 7, 1968 L. c. BRAUD GRADER BLADE AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1965 IIIJIIII' I I I II I I I I m I 1 m 1 1 nl.)

May 7, 1968 L. c. BRAUD GRADER BLADE A ND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Unit d States Patent C 3,381,760 GRADER BLADE AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Lionel C. Brand, New Roads, La, assignor to The Thomson Machinery Company, Inc, Thibodaux, La., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 8, 1965, Ser. No. 462,243 2 Claims. (Cl. 172-788) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure sets forth a mounting means for mounting a grader blade underneath a vehicle between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle, which in the preferred embodiment has a subframe suspended below the axis of the rear wheels of the vehicle, an auxiliary frame partly embraced by the subframe and pivotally connected thereto rearwardly of the rear Wheel axis of the vehicle on an axis extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle, and a bracket on a part of the auxiliary frame forward of the rear wheel axis of the vehicle for receiving a grader blade, the bracket being pivo-table about a vertical axis on the auxiliary frame, and means for pivotally adjusting the position of the bracket and a blade carried thereon about longitudinal, vertical and transverse horizontal axes, respectively, relative to said vehicle.

My present invention relates generally to a grader blade and mounting means therefor and more particularly to a grader blade especially adapted for attachment to and use with a motor vehicle such as a farm tractor.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a grader blade and mounting means therefor, wherein the grader blade may be selectively raised and lowered, tilted about a generally horizontal axis, and angled about a generally vertical axis.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a grader blade and mounting means therefor, as described, wherein the aforesaid movements of the blade are controlled hydraulically.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a grader blade, as described, which is located intermediate of the front and rear wheels of the vehicle generally transversely of the latter.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a grader blade, as described, which is suspended from the vehicle at the rear axle thereof whereby forces imposed on the grader blade are transferred to the rear axle.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a grader blade, as described, which extends beyond the outboard sides of the rear drive wheels whereby positive traction of the latter may be obtained.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a grader blade, as described, which may be precisely controlled, which operates with stability, and which is visible from the operators seat of the tractor.

It is a still further object of my present invention to provide mounting means for a grader blade wherein the pitch of the blade may be selectively adjusted, and whereby a straight blade may be interchangeably used with a V-type blade.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using a grader blade and mounting means therefor in accordance with the principles of my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a farm tractor incorporating the grader blade and mounting means therefor of my present invention, with portions being removed for the sake of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the grader blade and mounting means therefor of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the grader blade and mounting means therefor of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 5--5 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 66 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, of the grader blade and mounting means therefor of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 a conventional farm tractor which represents one embodiment of motor vehicle with which the grader blade and mounting means therefor of my present invention may be incorporated. The tractor 10 comprises a main frame structure 12 supported at its front end on steering wheels 14 and at its rear end on driving Wheels 16 mounted at the downwardly offset ends of an axle housing 17. Suitably supported on the frame structure 12 are an operators seat 18, a steering column 20, and an internal combustion engine 22. The engine 22 serves to drive the rear driving wheels 16 and the accessories, such as the oil pump of a hydraulic control system.

Located beneath the axle housing 17, as shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3, is a generally U-shaped horizontal subframe 24 which is suspended therefrom by structural elements including transversely spaced pairs of beams 25 (FIGURE 4-) and downwardly inclined reaction members 26 and 28. Each reaction member 26 has secured thereto adjacent its lower end a vertical guide bearing member 30.

Nested within the subframe 24 and extending forwardly thereof is a generally horizontal auxiliary frame 32. The auxiliary frame 32, which is of unitary construction, includes side frame elements 34, a rear transverse frame element 36, intermediate transverse frame elements 38 and 40, and forward inclined frame elements 42 joined at their inner ends to a longitudinal frame element 44 extending forwardly from the intermediate transverse frame element 40.

The auxiliary frame 32 adjacent its rear end is pivotally mounted to the subframe 24 about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle and about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle as Will be presently described. Depending from the underside of the subframe 24 adjacent the rear end thereof at each side thereof are a pair of plate member 46 in which are secured axially aligned stub tubes 48. Iournalled at its opposite ends in the stub tubes 48 is a transverse shaft 50 which carries a central tubular member 52. Projecting through the auxiliary frame element 36, spacer washers 54, the tubular member 52, and the transverse shaft 59, on an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, is a threaded pivot rod 56. Suitable nuts 58 are threaded onto the ends of the pivot rod 56 for maintaining the latter in assembled position. The journal mounting of the opposed ends of the transverse shaft 50 accommodates pivotal movement of the auxiliary frame 32 relative to the subframe 24 about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle whereby the forward end of the auxiliary frame 32 may be raised and lowered. The pivot rod 56 accommodates pivotal movement of the auxiliary frame 32 relative to the subframe 24 about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle whereby the auxiliary frame 32 may be rocked or tilted. The auxiliary frame 32 is provided at its opposite sides with saucershaped guide shoes 59 that are engageable with the guide bearing members of the subframe 24. The cooperating guide members 30 and guide shoes 59 serve to locate the auxiliary frame 32 relative to the subframe 24 and serve to guide the former during movement relative to the latter.

Movement of the auxiliary frame 32 relative to the subframe 24 is adapted to be selectively effected by means of a pair of generally vertical hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 60. Each hydraulic assembly 60 comprises a cylinder 62 secured at its upper ends, as by a transverse pivot pin 64, to the forward end of a longitudinal pivot shaft 66 rotatably mounted at its rear end in a guide tube 68 (FIGURE 5) secured along the upper edge of the adjacent beam 25. Each hydraulic assembly 60 further includes a piston rod '70 having a clevis 72 at 7 its lower end pivotally connected, as by a transverse pivot pin 73, to a bracket member 74 which in turn is pivotally connected by a longitudinal pivot bolt 76 to ear member 78 secured to the adjacent side frame element 34 of the auxiliary frame 32. When fluid under pressure is admitted to the upper ends of the cylinders 62 of the hydraulic assemblies 60, the piston rods are distended downwardly and the auxiliary frame 32 is caused to pivot about the axis of the transverse shaft 50 with the forward end of the auxiliary frame 32 moving downwardly. Conversely, when fluid under pressure is admitted to the lower ends of the cylinders 62 of the hydraulic assemblies 60, the piston rods 70 are retracted upwardly and the auxiliary frame 32 :is caused to pivot about the axis of the transverse shaft 50 with the forward end of the auxiliary frame 32 moving upwardly. Still further, when fluid under pressure is admitted to the upper end of one cylinder 62 and fluid under pressure is admitted to the lower end of the other cylinder 62, the auxiliary frame 32 is caused to be tilted about the aXis of the pivot rod 56 which extends longitudinally of the vehicle.

Extending generally transversely of the auxiliary frame 32 adjacent the forward end thereof is a grade-r blade support unit 80. Secured to the rear face of the support unit 80 centrally of the ends thereof (FIGURE 6) are a pair of vertically spaced support blocks 82 which are mounted at the opposed ends of a generally vertical pivot shaft 84. The central portion of the pivot shaft 84 is mounted in a sleeve member 86 secured in vertically spaced plate extensions 88 and 90 at the forward end of the longitudinal frame element 44 of the auxiliary frame 32. The pivot shaft 84 serves to accommodate pivotal movement of the greater blade support unit 80 relative to the auxiliary frame 32 about a generally vertical axis.

Movement of the grader blade support unit 80 relative 4 to the auxiliary frame 32 is adapted to be effected by means of a pair of generally horizontal hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 92. Each hydraulic assembly 92 includes a cylinder 94 pivotally connected at its closed end, as at 96, to a bracket member 98 secured to the intermediate transverse frame element 38 of the auxiliary frame 32. Each hydraulic assembly 92 further includes a piston rod 100 having a clevis 102 at its outer end which is pivotally connected, as at 104, to an ear member 106 secured to the support unit 80. Preferably, the hydraulic assemblies 92 are arranged in a divergent pattern in plan with the closed ends of the cylinders 94 being pivotally mounted to the auxiliary frame 32 at closely adjacent points and with the outer ends of the piston rods 100 being pivotally connected to the support unit 80 at the opposite ends thereof. When fluid under pressure is admitted to the one end of the cylinder 94 of one hydraulic assembly 92 and fluid under pressure is admitted to the other end of the other cylinder 94, the grader blade support unit 80 is caused to pivot relative to the auxiliary frame 32 about the generally vertical axis of the pivot shaft 84.

The grader blade support unit 80 is adapted to adjustably support a generally parallel grader blade unit 108. These units together constitute a grader blade assembly. The unit 108 may, for example as best shown in FIG- URES 2 and 7, comprise a curved plate member 110 which is provided along its lower forward edge with a bit or blade 112. Extending rearwardly from the backside of the plate member 110 adjacent the lower edge thereof are a pair of transversely spaced strap members 114, and extending rearwardly from the backside of the plate member 110 adjacent the upper edge thereof are a pair of transversely spaced ear members 116. The ear members 116 are connected by bolts 11.8 to rearwardly extending strap members 120. Each strap member 114 is provided with a plurality of openings 122, and a bolt 124 is adapted to be disposed through one of the openings 122 and secured to the adjacent lower end portion of the support unit 80. Similarly, each strap member is provided with a plurality of openings 126, and a bolt 128 is adapted to be disposed through one of the openings 126 and secured to the adjacent upper end portion of the support unit 80. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the pitch of the grader blade unit 108 may be selectively varied by adjusting the mounted positions of the pairs of strap members 114 and 120 relative to the support unit 80. Additionally, removal of the bolts 124 and 128 permits the grader blade unit 108 to be detached from the support unit 80 thereby accommodating the interchangeable use of different grader blade units. For example, a V-type blade may be substituted for the straight blade shown.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that I have provided a grader blade unit 108 which may be raised and lowered with the auxiliary frame 32 by actuation of the hydraulic assemblies 60 in the same direction, which may be tilted with the auxiliary frame 32 about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle by actuation of the hydraulic assemblies 60 in opposite directions, and which may be angled about a vertical axis by actuation of the hydraulic assemblies 92. In addition, the grader blade unit 103 is located intermediate of the front and rear Wheels of the vehicle and is thus visible from the operators seat. Furthermore, the grader blade unit 108 is suspended from the rear axle housing 17 of the vehicle, by means of the subframe 24 and the auxiliary frame 32 adjacent the rear axle, whereby forces imposed on the grader blade unit are transferred to the rear axle. Finally, the grader blade unit 108 extends beyond the outboard sides of the rear drive wheels 16 whereby positive traction of the latter may be obtained during operation of the vehicle in grading.

While I have shown and described What I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my inveution.

I claim:

1. For use with a motor vehicle having a main frame with front steering wheels and rear drive wheels at the ends of a rear axle housing, the combination of a generally U-shaped horizontal subframe suspended from the rear axle housing by structural elements including transversely spaced pairs of rearwardly and downwardly inclined reaction members, a generally horizontal auxiliary frame nested within said subframe and extending forwardly thereof, means rearwardly of the rear axle housing for pivotally mounting said auxiliary frame to said subframe about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle and about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle, generally vertically extending hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly means pivotally mounted at their upper ends on said structural elements forwardly of the rear axle housing and pivotally connected at their lower ends to said auxiliary frame for selectively effecting movement of the latter about said longitudinal and transverse axes, a generally transverse grader blade assembly pivotally mounted at the forward end of said auxiliary frame about a vertical axis, and generally horizontally extending hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly means pivotally mounted at their rear ends to said auxiliary frame and pivotally connected at their forward ends to said grader blade assembly for selectively effecting movement of the latter about said vertical axis.

2. For use with a motor vehicle having a main frame with front steering wheels and rear drive wheels at the ends of a rear axle housing, the combination of a generally U-shaped horizontal subframe suspended from the rear axle housing by structural elements including transversely spaced pairs of rearwardly and downwardly inclined reaction members, a generally horizontal auxiliary frame nested within said subframe and extending forwardly thereof, means rearwardly of the rear axle housing for pivotally mounting said auxiliary frame to said subframe about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle and about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle, generally vertically extending hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly means pivotally mounted at their upper ends on said structural elements forwardly of the rear axle housing and pivotally connected at their lower ends to said auxiliary frame for selectively etfecting movement of the latter about said longitudinal and transverse axes, a generally transverse grader blade support pivotally mounted at the forward end of said auxiliary frame about a vertical axis, generally horizontally extending hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly means pivotally mounted at their rear ends to said auxiliary frame at closely adjacent points and pivotally connected at their forward ends to the opposite ends of said grader blade support for selectively efiecting movement of the latter about said vertical axis, a generally transverse grader blade located intermediate the front steering wheels arid the rear drive wheels and extending beyond the outboard sides of the rear drive wheels, and means mounting said grader blade to said support whereby the pitch of said grader blade may be selectively adjusted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,758,491 5/1930 Aitken 37-155 XR 2,611,196 9/1952 Barrett et al 37155 XR 3,007,266 11/1961 Brand 37--155 3,021,622 2/1962 Whittier 37-41 XR ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. HOLLISTER, A. E. KOPECKI,

Assistant Examiners. 

